Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-12-08

pleasant s1tting-rOOm, there to join q
| fair-faced, golden haired, blue-eyed dam
sci, who had been an unseen spectator
and witness of the scenes we have de-
picted.
She had come from the railway station
about an hour before, brought by private
conveyance, with veil over her face, and
Mrs. Stevens alone, of all the people
about, knew of her arrival.
Both John and Henry were expecting
her to come to them on visit ere long,
but no time had been set.
All! little did either of them dream that
her eyes had beheld and ears heard them
| both on that day.
Ella Mason was the present visitor.
She was twenty years of age, health
full, happy, laughter-loving girl, honest
and true, and beautiful enough to turn
the heads and warm the hearts of ma
| jority of the young men who became &C.
quainted with her.
She was an orphan, her mother having
died during her early childhood. Her
father remained with her-or, at least,
alive to care for her-unt1l she had reach
ed her 18th year.
Mr.. Mason's business had called him
abroad a great deal, and he could not
make home for his child, he had given
her into the care of Mrs. Stevens, whom
he had known for many years, and IN
whom he had entire confidence.
And we may remark here, when the
will of Mr.. Mason was opened after his
death, il was found that he had left his
daughter Ella heireas to fifty thousand
pounds.
From the age of ten to the age of
eighteen, Ella Mason had been reared in
the Widow Stevens family, in close com
partnership with her two sons, John and
Henry.
And who can wonder that both the
boys came to love her.
The love of the younger and hand
somer son, Henry, was bold and out
spoken.
He seemed to fancy himself the law
full possessor, and perhaps he deemed
himself invincible.
He had never directly asked her to be
his wife, though he had very plainly in
timated to her that he should do SO when
the proper time was come.
The love of John was more like wor-
ship, distant and silent.
He carried the dear image in his heart,
praying always that her life might be
blessed and happy; but he had dared not
hope that he could ever help to make it
SO.
And how was it with Ella herself?
Certainly dnring the early years Harry
had been her favOrite, and she may have
appeared to prefer him later.
One thing in these latter days, how
ever, may have deceived people and very
likely deceived Harry himself.
1t was his overweening sense Of pro-
prietorship that gave the appearances.
He as boldly and selfshly appropriated
the fair lady as he would have appropri-
| ated any piece of property that he re-
garded as his own; and yet he did it iii
such way that she could not open his
eyes to his folly without taking the lead
in matter which had never been breach
ed between them.
Had he SPOKEN single word of mar
riage she could have very quickly set him
right; but he had not done that, though
he had often enough limited at it.
"My dear mamma'-so Ella Mason had
always called her dear oster-mother and
had loved her the same-"my dear nam
MAJ" she said, as the widow returned to
the sltting-rOOm after the departure of
Jack, "does the scene which have just
witnessed give me fair presentation
of the domestic and loving character of
your two sons? l might call it their
heart characters?"
''Ah, Ella" the widow replied, with a
sad and dubious shake of the head, can
tell you nothing new. You know my boys
of old. They have not changed"
''And is Jack always as good, as pleas
ant, and as CHEEKY and willing to help as
he appeared but now?"
"Jack? God bless him! Yes, Ella.
since the day when that boy first knew to
choose the good from the evil, he has
never given me an impatient or unkind
wOrd-not one. AS you have seen him,
today, so he is all the time. But LET us
not blame Henry too mach. He comes
honestly by his quality of mind and
heart. His father was much like what
he is now, but his father was never SO
handsome. Oh, Henry will grow to be
a popular man, / am sure, and 1 do not
believe he will ever descend to evil habits
or evil practices"
That evening the two sons came home
to supper, and were greatly surprised, as
well as very much pleased, upon behold
ing Ella.
''Bless me! when did you ceme?" asked
Henry, holding her hand the while.
81 came by express and am just get
ting rested" she answered promptly.
Now there were tive express trains
during the day, and the boys naturally
took it that she came by the 4 p. IA, and
at that let it pass.
They ate supper, and a pleasant eve
ming followed.
Several times Jack tried to hold scrap
of conversation with Ella, but Harry
pushed him out of the way, and more
than once he did it very unkindly.
At length, after chatting with his
mother for while, the poor fellow left
the room and went away to his own
chamber.
Poor Jack! He's kind O. grumpy,
isn't he?" laughed Henry, after his
brother had gone.
But no notice was taken of the I'M
feeling remark, ard the matter passed
off.
And the evening passed.
'Well," said Master Henry to himself
when he reached his chamber after the
others had retired, en- pluck this plum
while it is within my reach. It's about
time we had an understanding as to